A Very Tinder Christmas

Michael - 21 - Need someone to bring home for Christmas because I panicked and told my family I had a girlfriend and now they’re insisting that she comes on our annual Christmas trip with us. Must be okay with being called Rose. Must have a passport. ~A Christmas Competition Entry~ (A Christmas Story That Focuses On Love)

6. Chapter Six

On the next date we had, I started seriously considering becoming Rose. It seemed like it would be a lot of fun to go to London, and I knew my mom would understand if I decided not to go home for Christmas. She would probably be a tad bit disappointed, but she’d get over it quick enough that it wouldn’t make me feel too bad.

After I has finished my third final of the week, Michael and I went out again, giving me a break from studying for my last two finals that I had to take tomorrow.

“How would we go about explaining the fact that my drivers license, passport, and possible future plan ticket would say Kelsey and not Rose?” I asked.

“We say it’s just a nickname. It might be cliché but you could always say your parents always said you were ‘as beautiful as a rose,’ when you were younger and the name just stuck. Or, it would be that maybe you had rosy cheeks or something. But yeah, it would have to have been a nickname.”

I thought for a second. “Well, then, I’ll say yes, okay? I’ll agree to be Rose.”

Michael’s eyes lite up. “Really?”

“Under one condition.”

“Anything. I’ll do anything for you to make me not seem like a loser in front of my family.”

I gave him a small smile and took a breath to prepare myself for what I was about to say. “We start dating. Maybe not boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but I like you, and I think you like me, and so I think we should maybe like be together to something.” I blushed as I spoke and Michael took my hands.

“You’re all rosy, Kelsey,” he said with a cheeky grin, taking a step closer and meeting my gaze. “Or should I say, Rose?”